The Siren (Original Sinners #1) by Tiffany Reisz

The Siren is a modern-day retelling of My Fair Lady with uptight English literary fiction editor Zachary Easton as an unwilling Professor Higgins and well-known wild child Nora Sutherlin as his erotica-writing Eliza Doolittle. Zach only has six weeks left at Royal House New York before he heads to Los Angeles to take over as Chief Managing Editor at Royal West. When his boss orders him to help Nora Sutherlin rewrite her latest novel, Zach agrees to work with her only if he is given complete control over the fate of her book. If Nora doesn’t rewrite it to his satisfaction in six weeks, Royal won’t publish it.

4.75-5 Stars

As we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation…

So I’ve finally had some time to digest my initial thoughts on this beautifully erotic book. I was left heartbroken, yes, but that shouldn’t take away from the rest of the story. I initially gave this review 4.5 stars based only on how I felt at the end. I thought about it, and I realized that that judgment was unfair. To be quite frank, whatever I may end up saying will definitely not do this book the justice it deserves. I love this story, plain and sinful. **Ehem** I meant plain and simple. lol. This was differently beautiful, darkly seductive and passionately erotic. (Love those adverbs ;-). If you do not come into this book with an open mind, you might be put off. Otherwise, this was definitely one of those memorable stories that will stick with you. There are a lot of shockers in this one; some of which, spun my beliefs, and quite possibly yours, into a wonderful little tailspin. You have been warned.

This story centers on Nora Sutherlin, a famous erotica writer, who not only writes the stories, but lives it. In the Underworld, Nora is a famous and most sought after Dominatrix. Though, technically she’s a Switch, once being the submissive of her former lover, SØren. Before I continue, I must confess that I developed a rare lesbian crush on Nora. She has become one of my all-time favorite heroines. She has a wicked sense of humor, smart, and extremely seductive. I completely understand why men and women plunk down their money to just have the opportunity to kiss her boots. To say that she is a unique character is a severe understatement. There’s just something about her. It doesn’t hurt either that she is constantly surrounded by beautiful and gorgeous men either. 

”He’s sexually aroused by inflicting pain and humiliation. And he’s phenomenal at it.” ~ Griffin describing SØren 

SØren: (Beautiful and gorgeous man #1) Whoa. Where do I begin? There’s only so much I can say about SØren. He is first and foremost a sadist. He is dead sexy and extremely intimidating. His commanding presence alone can stop a room full of people. He and Nora were long time lovers prior to this story. They were, and still are, madly in love with each other. They were together for years, he as her Dom and she his sub. He inflicts pain, that is what he is good at and that is what Nora craves, until she runs away. Though she is no longer owned by him, she is still drawn to him. 

”Push, lunge, shove, attack, force, jab,” he rattled off the words. “I do love a man with a big vocabulary.” ~ Nora 

Zach Easton: (Beautiful and gorgeous man #2) He is Nora’s editor. He’s just relocated to the States after separating from his wife, Grace. It’s obvious that he is still in love with her and has a difficult time trying to move forward. He was very reluctant to accept the role of Nora’s editor. Apparently he’s not a fan of romance novels. However, with the persistence of his boss, he takes on the role. Nora, being Nora, starts to intrigue Zach. He’s never met anyone quite like her. She’s bold and brash. To me, I think Nora is there to help Zach heal and move forward. And that’s exactly what happens. 

”I will save you from yourself”…he could hear Wesley saying those very words to Nora. He hadn’t leaned yet you couldn’t save someone who didn’t want to be saved. 

♥♥Wesley♥♥: (Beautiful and gorgeous man #3) He is Nora’s nineteen year old, gorgeous, charming and virginal brown eyed roommate/intern. Although, Nora tells everyone he’s only sixteen to maintain her “street cred” (lol). He’s a southern gentleman who is completely and utterly in love with Nora. She loves him, but holds herself back knowing that he will never belong into her world of dark, erotic love. According to Nora, he’s too vanilla for her wild tastes. I’m so in love with Wesley, it’s ridiculous. 

Honorable mentions: Kingsley Edge and Griffin Fiske. I can’t write this review without at least acknowledging these two delectable gentlemen. ;)

Alright so there you have it. I LOVED this story. The ending was not what I wanted, but luckily there are at least two more books after this. I want those two books like yesterday. lol. I’ll definitely be stalking Mistress Reisz’s website and GR for when these two are coming out. Cannot wait for more!!

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer Armentrout

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Five++ Big Huge Enormous Stars :)

Resistance is futile, Kitten 

Before I begin, I have to thank Rachael for loaning me her beloved copy of this awesome story. I don’t think I could’ve survived waiting until August. No worries, your book is safe and sound. You rock! ♥♥♥ 

♥♥♥ Daemon was a total babe, but he was stab-worthy, which at times, zeroed out the babe part. ♥♥♥ 

Daemon is still Daemon and, God, did I miss him. I loved him in Obsidian, but man, he was even more swoon-worthy in this one. There were several moments of utterly sweet Daemon that made me melt. I literally closed the book, sighed heavily and just hugged the book. Take the following for example…

His throat worked slowly. “Can I…?” There was a pause and my heart stuttered. “Can I just hold you? That’s all…that’s all I want.”

A knot formed in my throat and my chest tightened, cutting off my voice. I didn’t want him to leave, so I nodded.

Relief flickered across his stoic face, softening the hard lines, and then he walked around to his side, kicked off his shoes, and slid into bed beside me. He moved closer, extending an arm, and I went, curling against his body, my head nestled in the space between his shoulder and chest.

“I kind of like being your body pillow,” he admitted, a smile in his voice. “Even if you drool on me.” 

As you can see, his arrogant side didn’t go very far, but more often he came off just charming and hilarious. There’s a scene where he joins Katy while she films her VLOG that will have you smiling from ear to ear. Lots of good times to be had. He was just amazing in this book. His relationship with Katy takes on a whole new level. The constant pen poking during class and the obvious flirting is beyond HOT. At the same time, he wants nothing more than to protect her. He deeply cares for her and her safety. Katy accuses him of stalking, but he just denies it and claims that he was just "looking out for her." Uh huh. Sure. However, we soon find out additional reasons, aside from the obvious ones, why he’s so overbearing. Something about Katy is changing.

I did not understand boys – especially alien boys. 

Ah, Katy. Where do I begin with you? I love you, you know that. You are one lucky chick to gain Daemon’s affections. However, what I couldn’t understand is why you were so stubborn, especially in regards to his reasoning for him wanting to be with you. He saved your life for crying out loud. Isn’t that good enough? Ugh! Some of your actions and decisions just baffled me, but I’m glad you finally came around. 

I’m not really going to delve too deeply regarding the plot. There were so many things going on, too many surprises, and new characters to figure out, particularly involving Blake (or was it Bartholomew, or Bilbo, or Bob? I forget). Anyway, I wouldn’t even know where to begin when it comes to describing the chaos that is going on in the story. Just know that this was another brilliant installment of a series that I come to just LOVE. Jennifer Armentrout's writing is pure genius. There’s just something about her storytelling that has you utterly captivated and enthralled. This was an excellent and brilliant sequel. To say that I’m looking forward to Opal (Lux #3) is an understatement. I would be willing to give up my first child to have that book in my hands now. Okay, so that was a tad much, but when you read this, trust me, you’ll understand why I made that statement. I truly loved this!!

Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2) by K.A. Linde

Lexi has finally given up her once destructive relationships and moved onto bigger and better things with a sexy new man in town. Just when she is starting to figure it out with him, her world is tilted once again with a phone call from none other than Ramsey Bridges. A year after his entrance into her life, Ramsey is trying to make amends and does the one thing she never expects—invites her to Jack's wedding.

The wedding she had evaded at all costs. But no matter what she does, Lexi can't seem to escape her past with Jack. But does she really want to?

Despite the explosive chemistry between Lexi and Ramsey, she is skeptical about trusting him after everything that has happened. When things are amiss with him, she starts questioning his motives. Can Ramsey be the one to remove Jack from Lexi's life permanently or should she move on with her blossoming new life?

Five Stars

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The yellow tape surrounds the area; the sirens have all been silenced. The damage has been done. Everyone injured has been patched up and sent for further treatment. The train wreck is over. There’s nothing more to see here. 

----------------

Once again, I am a mess. This emotional rollercoaster ride has come to an end; well, at least for now. Wow! This was just like the first book. My emotions were all over the place. Just check out my status updates, you’ll see just how screwed up I was. I literally had to take a break after every chapter and perform deep breathing exercises just to calm my ass down. I’ve never been so worked up before. This story, along with book one, has made a mess out of me. Do not fret…it’s a good type of mess ;-)

Immediately after I read this, a smile crept up my face. I loved the ending, though I wish there was an epilogue. **hint hint**. I’m sad that this ended and I’m hoping for more in the future, but for right now; for this very second, the biggest reason why I have a smile on my face is because I made it through intact and in one piece. 

***Please do not read further if you have not read book one, Avoiding Commitment. Possible spoilers ahead***

♥♥ Ramsey ♥♥: I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. You have earned a coveted place as one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. I do not care about your past. I don’t even care that you’re related to the evil spawn bitch Bekah. I LOVE YOU. What you did for Lexi is beyond sweet. You stayed by her side and stuck up for her and it was by far, the sweetest gesture you could’ve done to show her you loved her. My heart just melted. You are amazing!

Lexi: Chica, I’m so proud of you!!! Yes, I questioned some of your decisions, but we all have to learn from our mistakes. You definitely learned your lesson the hard way, and I’m so happy that Jack is now out of the picture. When you kneed him in the cojones, I screamed out, “yes! It’s about time!! Woohoo!!” You definitely earned the right to date my Ramsey. Please treat him good. If you hurt him, I will come after you! 

Jack: I’m glad I denounced you after the first book. You haven’t changed one bit since the first book. I can’t believe all the extra drama you caused in this book. Ughh! Why do you have to be so freaking charming and sleazy at the same time Gahhh! I can never figure you out.

Bekah: I still hate you. More so now, than ever before. OMG! You are so f**king delusional! You are so malicious and callous. Jack will never fully love you. 

Chyna & Adam: I’m so happy you two are together! I wish you two all the best. ♥

**SIGH** Ok. I’m totally spent. I love this book. I love both stories. They caused me nothing but angst and tons of emotional outbursts, but it was all worth it. When these two are officially available in book form, I will happily run out and add them to my shelf collection. They are a must have in my opinion. I never thought I would enjoy a story with so much torment and anguish, but K.A. Linde proved me wrong. A definite must read!

Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1) by K.A. Linde

Jack and Lexi never had a typical relationship. After 2 years without speaking, she receives a phone call that changes everything. He unexpectedly asks her to convince the new girl, Bekah, that he's ready to commit. Jack is calling now after everything they had been through because there is another woman. She can't believe it. 

Follow Lexi in this heart wrenching drama as she relives her past relationship, or lack thereof, with Jack, and not just in her own mind, but to his fiance-to-be. Throw in Bekah's hot brother who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a past with more secrets to unravel than you can even imagine, and you get a recipe for disaster. 

Find out what happens to Lexi as she travels to Atlanta to get the closure she so desperately desires from Jack, and how the bumps of life seem to keep getting in the way.

4.75 Stars

They were not a couple. They were lovers and most definitely in love. Yet, they were a disaster together.

Warning: I tend to use a lot of expletives when I’m emotional. This book, my friends, has made an emotional wreck out of me. So be warned, I will cuss and swear, a lot, in this review :)

I’m a total mess. I think I just had a minor stroke. My speech is slurred, I feel weak all over, and I’ve lost all ability to think straight. They need a support group for those who read this book. I need a place to vent. I feel like punching something, or better yet, I want to virtually slap a few characters in this book. My heart hurts and my mind is in chaos. Listen to me, and listen to me good. This story will fuck with you. It will fuck you over and over again to the point where you want to scream “stop,” but just can’t. 

Though this story does not involve whips or chains, I would still categorize it as an S&M book. Why? Simply because Jack dished out the pain over and over again and Lexi just keeps coming back for more. The emotional damage these two inflicted on each other is beyond any physical pain one can endure. I don’t know how I made it this far, but like Lexi, I just keep coming back for more. The masochist in me wanted to feel the pain and I desperately wanted to know how it will all pan out. 

**The following may have spoilers**

Jack: You are a sadist and the worst kind of character. I love and hate you at the same time. I love your charm and the alpha-ness in you. The fact you have this unattainable quality, makes me want you even more. However, I loathe the fact that you’re selfish, destructive, and manipulative. You keep dangling this “relationship” carrot constantly in front of Lexi without remorse or regret. You constantly inflict heartache and misery every time you re-enter her life. So no matter how charming or sexy you are, I made up my mind that you are just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You hurt me severely and I will no longer fall for your antics. You are officially on my shit list. I denounce you!

Lexi: 

Lexi stayed outside for a minute contemplating how she had allowed things to get so out of control. She had promised herself she wouldn’t let this happen, but when push comes to shove, literally, she couldn’t say no to him. If she were to do it all over again, she’d make the same goddamn mistake. 

Girl, you desperately need an intervention. All the warning signs are there, but you won’t listen to them. No wait, strike that, you won’t act upon those warnings. You know Jack is hazardous to your health, but you keep letting him back in. He hurt you, sweetie. The damage he always leaves behind should serve as a constant reminder of how he always drags you down. As much as I want to slap you and make you see clearly, I get it, he’s your kryptonite. Nevertheless, you need to shut him out permanently, otherwise you won’t be able to move forward with your life. 

Bekah: I literally hate you. You are a one manipulative, delusional bitch. There were times where I felt sorry for you, but man, you played me. If you were real, I would so go postal on your ass! (view spoiler)

Ramsey: I love you. You are a mystery to me, but I don’t care. If Lexi doesn’t want you, I’ll have you. I hope to God that whatever Bekah said about you isn’t true. There’s no way you could’ve faked all that. I’m crossing my fingers for you in the next book. 

Chyna: You are one kick-ass BFF. If you were real, we can totally party it up!

Whew! Okay, now that I have most of that out of my system, I will be delving into book two now. I should wait until all my feelings are in check, but man, I'm severely curious to found out how this mind fuck of a story ends. If you like angst to the millionth power and love to be tormented, read this!

Scandalous (Scandalous #1) by Ella Steele

"I see it, Jack. Your muse is back. The thing that gave you passion, tormented you, and haunted you is back. You're reeling in ecstasy and dread. It's something you want, but can't ever have. And the one that brings the pain is pure, white as snow... and standing in front of you."

One kiss could have changed Abby's life, but when it didn't happen, she ran. Jack was everything to her and when he didn't respond, Abby couldn't bear it. Everything about that night--leaning in close to his face, feeling the night breeze teasing her hair, the way his scent filled her head--was burned vividly into her mind, including the moment when Jack pulled away. There was no kiss. Abby was wrong. She was wrong about him, wrong about them. 

Maybe she didn't have to go to college two thousand miles away, but she did. She had to forget about him. Abby threw herself off the grid, disappearing completely from the life she knew. After completing her undergraduate degree, she enrolled in seminary. All contact with her old life was severed and she never looked back, until she was forced to.

When Abby puts idealism into practice, her congregation throws her out. If she can survive a year on her own, they'll take her back, and continue to pay off her student loans--but if she fails, Abby is on her own with enough debt to fund a small town. Seminary wasn't cheap. With no place left to go, Abby returns to New York and her best friend takes her in. 

Desperate to make it on her own and prove she was right, Abby follows a job lead to an art studio on Long Island. It isn't until she hears Jack's voice that she freezes. The hairs on the back of her neck prickle as she turns to see Jack, ten years later, looking even more tempting than before.

Fate is cruel. Abby left this life behind, but she's thrown back into it, head first. It's like someone hit rewind on her life and its ten years earlier. She's the cotton-mouthed girl that she always was around Jack, and now her future relies on the man who rejected her.

FIVE HUGE, SINFULLY SCANDALOUS STARS =)

"I see it, Jack. Your muse is back. The thing that gave you passion, tormented you, and haunted you is back. You're reeling in ecstasy and dread. It's something you want, but can't ever have. And the one that brings the pain is pure, white as snow... and standing in front of you" 

**SIGH**

This is one of the best books I’ve read all year. That’s a heck of a statement, but I mean it. I don’t know how I found this book, maybe it was divine providence, but it quenched everything I love about romance books. I was initially hesitant at first, considering the H/h were not at all typical, but the cover and hidden promise of what might transpire just drew me right in. By the way, how beautiful is that cover? I’ll tell you right now, the story is just as provocative. It tore me up, made my heart ache, made me cry and made me happy. 

As I said, Jack & Abby were not your typical H/h. Jack is a famous artist, whose work can be construed as either fine art or pornographic. He does not touch, nor date, nor sleep with his models. He also hires a female assistant to oversee his every move when he’s painting a model. With these simple rules, he maintains a pristine reputation that helps him sell his art. Abby is the dubbed as the one who got away. Jack and Abby were close high school friends until she disappears after their near kiss. A decade has passed and Abby returns, practically penniless & desperate looking for job. She has spent most of her time as a minister in a small church in Texas. However, her church forced her to take a mandatory sabbatical after she openly commits an offense. So she’s back and her desperation lands her at Jack’s studio. Yes, she is a minister, but she doesn’t find his work offensive or disgusting, but evocative and beautiful. He hires her as his new assistant. 

Working in such close proximity to Jack is having a profound effect on Abby. He’s stirring up feelings within her that she thought was long gone. Those repressed feelings that she has had for him all these years are returning with a force. As for Jack, he’s always seen Abby as his “unattainable goddess.” How long can these two keep up this charade?

He reached out for me, tugging me by the waist closer to him. Gazing down into my face, he whispered, “I’m sorry, but I can’t be the one to start this. I can’t be the one to pull you from your calling and break your vows.” 

Talk about forbidden love and lust…WOW!! Though this was told in Abby’s POV, I felt so much for both characters. The tension was palpable and so physically powerful; it literally reached out and tugged at all my emotions. When they finally couldn’t take it anymore, their coming together was explosive. My God, it was beautifully erotic. When a story elicits so much emotion from you, you know it’s good. I love, Love, LOVE this story. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Side note: H.M. Ward writes paranormal YA romance. Ella Steele is her pen name. I hope that Ms. Steele continues to write more these adult contemporary novels because this was utterly fantastic.